Okay, I've got a 1987 turbo II with 80K miles on it, and here's the problem.

My add coolant light keeps coming on along with that warning buzzard when I started my car this morning.

Here's the thing, my overflow tank is full, and I can't tell if the radiator actually is getting any of that fluid. (yes I know sounds stupid). Any ideas on what the problem might be? I already planned on just flushing the system out and putting some fresh fluid in. Should I check if the sensors are corroded or anything along those lines?! Any help would be much appreciated, and yes, I know how dumb my question sounds.
-Bert

 

Check/replace the hose going to the overflow tank. If it has a hole in it, coolant won't be able to suck fluid back into the coolant system when it cools off.

 

alright, I'll check that out, also I've noticed that my fluid isn't green, it's got that tint of oil, but it doesn't feel like oil. People told me that someone might have put that orange GM radiator fluid in it.

 

take that GM orange **** out. Use the green kind. And if you have oil in the coolant, you should see it floating in the coolant, it won't mix with it. Also check the oil in the pan. If there is oil in the coolant, then coolant can get in the oil which is a bad thing. Coolant is corrosive to bearings. You don't want that stuff getting in the rotors trying to lubricate the e-shaft.

 

yep, as i said you should flush out the coolant to get rid of that crap but i doubt it is the whole of your problem. start with as said and replace the coolant overflow hose to the radiator and probably the radiator cap as well, sounds like there is a problem that the coolant is going out of the system and not being drawn back in when it cools.

 

I wonder abouut replacing the radiator cap. It helped with mine, but I also had a small heater core leak.

 

Pressure-test your coolant system. Even a pinhole leak anywhere will keep the coolant from being drawn back into the radiator. You don't have white smoke on startup, do you?

 

Could be air in the system. Use the air bleeder on the side of the radiator, loosen it with the car on, leave it loosened until the car reaches operating temp and then you should see coolant start bubbling out a tiny bit around it, then close it. See if that helps, if it is air in the system that should help.